Irish Mini Owners Club

Hi all,

Was out in RTE today, and spotted this little Japanese beauty

Seems in relatively good condition, but there are several dents and the exhaust seems to have fallen off and is lying on the ground. A newspaper in the back suggests it has been there since September 2012 and there is mould on the seats

I left a note, but even still I was wondering does anyone know anything about her as I'd love to contact the owner?????











Incidentally these other minis were also in the same car park. I thought they might even be the same owner? The Clubman Estate had a IMM2011 sticker in the window. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

The Clubby belongs to Keith and he and I co-drove it to Germany for IMM2011

i was talking to the guys in RTE security recently, the approached me regarding the green cooper... thought it was mine as i have a similar one. did the OP miss the drop-dead-gorgeous 00-TS blue/white cooper parked outside the radio building? there's also a sad '76 MGB-GT with collapsing front suspension...

Thanks for that Keith, I presume you work in Radio?! My brother was in performing on Seán Rocks Arena show. I'm surprised those cars are being allowed to sit there. I'd be worried about them being carted off and into the wrong hands!

what else did the security men say? And did you ever attempt to contact the owner?



somehow missed the 00-TS, but couldn't resist scoping out the MGB. I'm not as big a fan of the face-lifted plastic bumper, think the chrome was so much classier. But it is a crime to have such a car rotting away

So no ideas people? Come on!!! this poor mini is crying out!

That's my 01 Cooper. Don't know who owns the 94 BRG Mini but it's been sitting there for ages.

current thinking is that its a prop car for Fair City.

It could be, but the missus watches fair city and she has never seen the mini in it

Having said that though, I emailed Aoibhín Garrihy who plays Neasa on the show. She's used to be a neighbour of mine.

No reply! ah well, can't say i didn't try!

go to the guards with the reg say you backed into them and waited around and no1 arrived and want there address to contact them

.... some speculation that there may be a car-chase scene being planned for Love/Hate involving said vehicle... .

As much as I enjoy Love/Hate, I'm not sure I would like to see this little baby being rallied around by Nidge! Thankfully I don't have to worry about this now, since I own her!

I eventually managed to track down the owner, and did the deal. Put a new battery in her and she fired up no problem. Whats more the brakes weren't jammed, so happy days. Exhaust had completely fallen off so she had to be towed. (I know this isn't advisable with an automatic, but my options were very limited. Kept the speed under 30kph, and we stopped several times)

Got home with no (apparent) problems, and had the new exhaust section fitted by this afternoon. She drives well, but there is quite a lack of the power at the low revs... I thought it might be plug leads but the leads were done twice in the last 18 months....! and 3 times in 3 years according to the service history.

....any ideas?

some more pics below


getting ready to leave RTE (fair city set in background)

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home safe and sound

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Damaged exhaust section

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my mate insisted I try a set of superlites on her. Unfortunately they're completely unusable - shame cos they look bad ass

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She doesnt need a whole lot of work to get her 100%. Some very minor rust issues and a dent in the back that will need some attention. (photo to follow)

Will keep ye posted. Any help on the power lag issue greatly appreciated
Thanks

Nice one man, congrats on the buy, well wear

Nice work. How did you manage to track down the owner? Did she set you back much?

I had been speaking to Brendan from RTE security on and off for the last few weeks, he was asking around to see who owned it. Then he rang me last Thursday to say he had found the owner - a young woman from the HR department. I thanked him with a bottle of Jameson!

She told me she has spent a lot of money on the mini to get it through it's last NCT... and she wasn't kidding. She has receipts totaling over €2000 in the last 2 years. 4 New tyres, reconditioned carb, fuel filter and regulator, temp sensor, map sensor, ball joints, rear wheel cylinders, CV boot and gaiter, not to mention the modified centre exit. The list goes on.

I think when the exhaust downpipe failed, it was the straw that broke the camels back and that's how it ended up lying opposite fair city for 6 months. It's unfortunate for her, because the exhaust fix was very simple. What's concerning me now is the lack of power, so please people feel free to share your thoughts!

Also on further inspection of the damage to the rear, it's a bit worse than I initially thought. Will need to be pulled out and re-aligned
Any suggestions on the best way to do this.... minimal intervention preferred!!

Thanks


View of the dent, must have been a bollard




you can see the crease in the bodywork. This has knocked the boot lid out of line

Nice one best of luck with it. Glad to see another one saved